ASU Law for Veterans

Why ASU Law

The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University is one of the country’s preeminent law schools. Ranked a top 12 public law school and #32 overall nationally by U.S. News & World Report, ASU Law is a leading provider of comprehensive and personalized legal education. Located in a state-of-the-art building in downtown Phoenix, ASU Law is steps away from the legal, political and economic heart of Arizona.

In 2006, the law school was renamed to honor Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States. Justice O'Connor (ret.) is a frequent visitor to ASU Law, where she lends her knowledge and expertise to the next generation of lawyers and others interested in the legal profession.

How it all started

In a video shown during an annual ASU Law Scholarship Luncheon, a student was discussing his volunteer work at the Arizona Legal Center. The Marines Corps logo on his shirt caught the eye of an audience member, Deborah Carstens, whose late husband, Bill, was a lawyer who had served in the Marines.

Curious to know more, Carstens approached ASU Law administrators. She learned that veterans were a priority for the law school, but that tuition was a barrier for some. The GI Bill helps veterans and active-duty military personnel pay for college, but there are caps on the benefits, which are typically used for an undergraduate degree. To pursue a law degree, most would need to pay out of pocket or receive scholarships.

So Carstens, who said she was inspired by Arizona State University’s commitment to veterans, made the decision to fund a scholarship program for Marines and veterans of the Special Forces.

“We share Deb’s passion for supporting those who have so graciously served our country, and we thank her for this special and generous donation,” said former ASU Law Dean Emeritus Douglas Sylvester. “We are honored to welcome these students and help prepare them for success in the next chapter of their lives.”

Read full story here: ASU Law welcomes first recipients of scholarship program for Marines